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Sometimes a personal touch means more than a blank book. I would love to send you an autographed copy of my books. You also may even know someone who would enjoy a gift of devotionals about the Holy Land.

As a way of saying thanks to my blog subscribers, each person receives a free copy of my e-book, Grow Strong: 30 Devotions to Deepen Your Christian Life.

But you can also grab a copy of the audiobook. And here’s the best part: you can get it FREE.

Audible is offering my audiobook (read by me) as a FREE download with your 30-day trial membership. Don’t want to be an Audible subscriber? No problem. Just cancel before 30 days ends and you can keep my audiobook for free. No strings.

“I took advantage of the Audible version and couldn’t have been happier with the ease of use while driving in my car, studying, and even riding my bike! Whether you are a new Christian or have been walking with Jesus for decades, Grow Strong will help you focus on seeing life through our Savior’s eyes.”D. Chase

Click to listen to a sample devotion:

I hope you’ll take advantage of this offer to grow deep in your Christian life!

Years ago I walked into a pet store with one of my daughters to buy dog food. The guy at the cash register saw us walk in, and immediately his face lit up: “Are you Wayne Stiles?” Completely surprised, I answered: “Yes.”

It wasn’t the beauty of the Jordan River that inspired centuries of psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to include it in their verses.

Its significance began as a simple geographic barrier, which—practically speaking—represented a border (Joshua 22:18-25). In fact, the serpentine river still represents a border between Israel and the nation of Jordan.

In Scripture, however, the river’s presence on Israel’s eastern edge stood as an enduring metaphor of transitions.

Imagine following Jesus along the road, listening in on His conversations, and gleaning the lessons He taught in the holy places He traveled. This book takes such a journey.

Written in an easy, devotional style, Walking in the Footstepsof Jesus mingles an engaging and enjoyable travelogue with the practical lessons gleaned from walking the Holy Land.

“I thought Walking in the Footsteps of Jesus would be an interesting read, but I found it to be absolutely captivating! Wayne is a great storyteller, but he is also a very careful Bible scholar. That is a very lethal combination—lethal in the sense that it will destroy any inclination that you have to drift off into boredom. . . . This travelogue is a first-class seat in an air-conditioned Mercedes bus, just like the ones that you’ll find in Israel. I know you’re going to enjoy the ride.”—Steve Farrar, bestselling author and founder of Men’s Leadership Ministries

Going Places With God:A Devotional Journey Through the Lands of the Bible

This book finds its roots in places God chose—literally. The lands of the Bible offer more than a backdrop for the stories of the Bible. These places played an integral role in shaping the lives of those who lived there. God designed it so. And for us, understanding how the land shaped its inhabitants gives us tremendous insight into understanding Scripture. Even more, it provides us with a glimpse as to why God has placed us where we live today.

Ninety devotional readings, each based on a specific place in the lands of the Bible, invite you to embark on your own spiritual journey.

Today’s transportation system requires little more than a basic understanding of road signs and airline gates (which I somehow still seem to miss). That’s why most of us failed geography. Who needs it?

But in ancient Israel geography was critical. Today I saw one reason why.

Our hotel in Tel Aviv sits right next to ancient Joppa (think Jonah and Peter). In fact, a short walk down the beach took us there.

The Egyptians’ ancient rubble in Joppa reminded me of why foreign powers all wanted to control Israel. The land of Israel sat in an amazingly strategic position as the only intercontinental land bridge between the superpowers of the ancient world. The strategic International Highway—sometimes called the Great Trunk Road or the Via Maris (“Way of the Sea”)—ran the full length of the land of Israel.

This vast artery of transport stretched from the Fertile Crescent all the way to Egypt. Israel stood at the crossroads of three continents—Asia, Africa, and Europe—and the surrounding seas and desert forced all who traveled to Egypt by land to traverse Israel. In addition to Egypt, the armies of Assyria, Babylon, Media-Persia, Greece, and Rome all invaded Israel in order to control its International Highway. Israel remained for millennia the crossroads for international imperialism, war, and trade.

The ancient port of Joppa

Even today, Israel serves as the overland passageway for large, high-flying birds that prefer not to migrate over the seas. Literally hundreds of thousands of black and white storks, steppe and spotted eagles, black kites, steppe and honey buzzards, and Levant sparrow hawks soar over the Holy Land in their biannual migrations to and from east Africa. No wonder bird watching remains a popular activity in Israel.

When foreigners traveled through Israel during biblical days, God’s people would either influence them or be swayed by them. Because of this influence, Israel’s central position among the nations proved to be a double-edged sword.

God lamented that Jerusalem’s general placement as “the center of the nations,” had borne no fruit of obedience (Ezekiel 5:5). Ironically, God’s people had been swayed by the very nations He intended them to influence.

What a great reminder that we have to guard the critical points of entry into our lives.

I spent most of last year with the privilege of editing a fine book by Chuck Swindoll, released just last month, The Church Awakening: An Urgent Call for Renewal. The book contains all that we’ve come to love and appreciate about Chuck’s writing—humor, biblical accuracy, practical insights, grace, and balance.

In a nutshell, the book looks at how the 21st-century church has drifted away from biblical beliefs and essential truths has produced many local congregations and leadership devoted to entertaining the flock rather than to feeding them.

By examining how God’s Word defines the church’s priorities, Chuck takes us beyond a mere analysis of today’s church to the needed encouragement of how leaders and congregations can play a part in returning to God’s design.

Full of great illustrations, humorous stories, and practical Bible teaching, The Church Awakening is a must-read for pastors and church leaders—as well as any serious-thinking Christian. The chapter on worship alone is worth the price of the book. I am confident you’ll enjoy it!

I also had the privilege to participate in a brand new documentary project called “The 12 Biggest Lies.” The documentary is extremely well produced and features interviews from “leading minds such as Ravi Zacharias, Alex Jones, Kerby Anderson, and many more!” (I’m part of the “many more” group.) You can see all the contributors here.

What’s it about? The documentary sheds light on 12 common misconceptions:

1. There is no such thing as truth.

2. People are inherently good.

3. No one should be offended.

4. Men and women are equal.

5. A fetus isn’t human.

6. The world is overpopulated.

7. Americans are greedy and self-centered.

8. Islam is a religion of peace.

9. The Jews stole Jerusalem.

10. The earth is billions of years old.

11. There is no God.

12. Jesus was just a good man.

By the way, I don’t make a dime off this project or from my endorsement of it. It was just a privilege to contribute.

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QUOTES I LIKE

Too often we allow ourselves to believe that a robust view of God’s sovereignty in all things means that when suffering comes it won’t hurt. God’s sovereignty doesn’t take away the pain and evil that confront us in our lives; it works them for our good. Dustin Shramek

O Holy Spirit, deepen in me these saving lessons. Write them upon my heart, that my walk be sin-loathing, sin-fleeing, Christ-loving; And suffer no devil's device to beguile or deceive me.

Everything that hurts us on earth has the potential, when we let God put His hands in the conflict, to bless the world. In short, we hurt, and God heals, which makes us an agent of healing. Mary DeMuth

WAYNE STILES
Hi, my name is Wayne Stiles, and I love connecting the Bible and its lands to life. This is my personal blog where that happens. My goal is to deliver practical content to encourage you in your relationship with God. I believe that a life lived well needs a growing and intentional connection with God through Jesus Christ. I write on the devotional life, Bible lands, understanding the Bible, and resources I have found helpful on these topics.